A Conversation
“I trained all of them. Just put your nose under the big top so you can see.”
“There’s no big top. Just a bunch of dirty hair.”
“Humor me; if you dig in there you can see the center of the tent. That’s where they perform.”
“I can’t get past the smell. You need a bath.”
“Forget about me. Focus on the stage.”
“I see them. They’re all just sort of sitting there.”
“Watch this. Did you see it?”
“See what?”
“Harvey. He flipped in mid-air and landed on his nose. The world’s fastest jumping flea!”
“Nothing happened.”
“Harvey jumped! He’s just so fast.”
“Uhm, he just sat there.”
“Maybe your nose is too long and you’re not able to see him jump.”
“I’ll have you know my nose is short for a dachshund.”
“Here. I’ll get them to jump all at once. Did you see it?”
“No. They all just sat there again.”
“Pooey. You’re just blind.”
“Now that you mention it, my eyes are starting to water from that mix of dander, foxtails, and grass. Man, you really need to dip yourself in the dog dish.”
“Fine. I have the world’s fastest, best trained, most spectacular troupe of jumping fleas on my back, and you’re worried about me taking a bath. You frustrate me.”
“I think I’d be less frustrated if you took a bath.”
© 2018, Michael Shawn Sommermeyer. All rights reserved.
A Conversation (Continued)
“I suppose you’re happy now.”
“You do smell better.”
“And the flea circus washed away, gone down the drain, to never be seen again.”
“A bit dramatic.”
“I spent days training them to flip mid-air. Charlie could land on his nose.”
“Never saw his performance. The stench overpowered me.”
“Now I smell like daffodils.”
“With a tinge of honey.”
“I don’t like it.”
“You know…”
“What?”
“No, I’d better not say it.”
“Tell me!”
“Well, you could roll around in the dirt over there and wipe away your bath scent.”
“Good idea. I’ll be right back.”
“Now you smell like stale soil mixed with piss.”
“Yep, much better. Those fleas should be back in no time.”
For Part 1, see Take a Bath, Already!